Russia blasts 'outrageous' Hitler comparison by Charles

Russia has hit back at an "outrageous" comparison made by Prince Charles between the country's president Vladimir Putin and Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

Russia has blasted Prince Charles' "outrageous" remark about its president Vladimir Putin.

The royal heir has sparked a diplomatic row by comparing the Russian leader to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, and the country's foreign ministry has described the comments - apparently made during a royal trip to Canada - as "low" and unbecoming of a royal.

Alexander Lukashevich, Russia's foreign ministry spokesman, told a news conference: "If these words were truly spoken, then without doubt, they do not reflect well on the future British monarch."

"We view the use of the western press by members of the British royal family to spread the propaganda campaign against Russia on a pressing issue - that is, the situation in Ukraine - as unacceptable, outrageous and low."

Russia's embassy in London has demanded a meeting with the Foreign Office and deputy ambassador Alexander Kramarenko was set to meet with British diplomats yesterday.

The embassy said in a statement: "The outrageous remarks made by Prince Charles in Canada will be among the questions raised. The embassy asked the FCO for official clarifications on that yesterday."

Prince Charles (65) is alleged to have made the comparison between Putin and Hitler in a private conversation with a Jewish museum volunteer whose family fled Nazi Germany.